Ultrasonic probe

ABSTRACT

An electronic radial ultrasonic probe comprising an electronic radial array which comprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers being continuously arrayed circularly around an insertion axis as center and also for which a transmission/reception of an ultrasonic wave is controlled by electronically selecting the plurality of ultrasonic transducer, comprises: a support member equipped on the electronic radial array; a lock member featured with a cavity in which the support member is inserted and with a lock groove for locking a balloon which is mounted in a manner to cover the electronic radial array and in which an ultrasonic medium is filled; and a filler member which is constituted by an adhesive material converting from a fluid state to a solid state, and is filled in the cavity.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is a continuation of U.S. patent application Ser. No.12/608,564, filed on Oct. 29, 2009, which is a divisional of U.S. patentapplication Ser. No. 11/662,791, filed on Mar. 14, 2007, which is anational stage of PCT International Application No. PCT/JP2005/016855,filed on Sep. 13, 2005, which claims benefit of Japanese ApplicationNos. 2005-022261, filed on Jan. 28, 2005, 2004-270380, filed on Sep. 16,2004, and 2005-025301, filed on Feb. 1, 2005, the entire contents ofeach of which are incorporated herein by their reference.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to an ultrasonic endoscope using anultrasonic probe.

BACKGROUND ART

An ultrasonic endoscope, comprising an insertion unit for inserting theendoscope into an abdomen being equipped with an ultrasonic probe (i.e.,an ultrasonic search unit), is capable of creating a clear image of adigestive canal wall and a deep organ, such as pancreas and gallbladder, in a good image quality without being influenced by anintra-abdomen gas, or a bone, by means of an ultrasonic beamtransmitted/received from/to the ultrasonic probe.

Among those ultrasonic probes, one employing an electronic scanningsystem consists of tens of pieces of elements, in which each elementmust be connected to a transmission/reception-use coaxial cable. Whenconnecting an electrode of each element of an electronic scanningultrasonic probe to a signal transmission/reception-use coaxial cable, acommon method is to solder a core lead of the coaxial cable to thesignal electrode of each element and solder a shield wire of the coaxialcable to the ground electrode of each element. The tip of the insertionpart of an endoscope is equipped with such configured ultrasonic probe.

Such ultrasonic endoscopes conventionally utilized include a convextype, a linear type and a radial type. Among them, the radial type isone transmitting/receiving (noted as “transceiving” (and “transceive” asverb form) hereinafter) an ultrasonic beam in a circumferentialdirection, including a mechanical radial scanning system transceiving anultrasonic beam in a radial pattern by rotating a probe and anelectronic radial scanning system transceiving an ultrasonic beam in aradial pattern by means of arraying a plurality of piezoelectricelements on a circumference of a cylinder and an electronic control(e.g., refer to a patent document 1).

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic endoscopeapparatus. The ultrasonic endoscope apparatus 160 shown in FIG. 1comprises a connection part 161, an operation part 162 and an insertionpart 163 which comprises a tip part 164.

The connection part 161 is for example connected to a display apparatuscomprising a display in which an image photographed by an ultra compactcamera equipped on the tip part 164 is displayed.

The operation part 162 performs an operation of curving the insertionpart 163 in the up, down, left and right directions, that of expandingor contracting a balloon as described later, and other operations by auser operation.

The tip part 164 is equipped with an electronic radial array constitutedby a plurality of ultrasonic transducer being continuously lined upcircularly around the insertion axis as the center, in addition to theultra compact camera, so that a predetermined ultrasonic transducerselected from among the plurality thereof transceives an ultrasonicwave. An ultrasonic wave received by the electronic radial array is alsoconverted into an electric signal and displayed in the display, etcetera, as an image.

Incidentally, the radial array equipped on the tip part 164 includes amechanical radial array in which a plurality of ultrasonic transducersis mechanically scanned, in addition to the electronic radial array(e.g., refer to a non-patent document 1).

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram of the dotted line circle A indicated inFIG. 1. As shown in FIG. 2, the tip part 164 comprises a camera part 170equipped with the ultra compact camera, illumination, et cetera, and anultrasonic part 171 equipped with the electronic radial array, etcetera.

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying an electronic radial array. The radialarray shown in FIG. 3 shows a state before individual ultrasonictransducers are formed into a circular form. The electronic radial array180 comprises a piezoelectric element 181, an electrode 182, a firstacoustic matching layer 183, a second acoustic matching layer 184, aconductive resin 185, a conductor body 186 and a substrate 187.

The piezoelectric element 181, electrode 182, first acoustic matchinglayer 183, second acoustic matching layer 184, conductive resin 185,conductor body 186 and substrate 187 are divided into a pluralitythereof by commonly equipped grooves, resulting in comprising theplurality of ultrasonic transducers.

Then, the electronic radial array 180 is formed into a tubular form bythe end surfaces in the direction perpendicular to the longitudinaldirection of the electronic radial array 180 being connected to oneanother from the state shown in FIG. 3. Then, a lock member for lockingan end of a later described balloon is mounted onto the opening part ofthe tubular-formed electronic radial array 180 on the side of theconductive resin 185.

Note that an ultrasonic endoscope shown in the non-patent document 1 isconfigured to equip the tip of a cap, which covers a mechanical radialarray, with a groove to which an end of a balloon is locked.

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying a lock member mounted onto anelectronic radial array 11. As shown in FIG. 4, the lock member 190 isequipped with a lock groove 191 for fixing an end of a balloon.

FIG. 5 exemplifies a balloon. The balloon 200 shown in FIG. 5 isconfigured to be made of an elastic body such as an elastomer and formedto be tubular, and is mounted onto an ultrasonic part 171 so as to coverthe electronic radial array 180.

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing how the balloon 200 is mounted onto theultrasonic part 171. As shown in FIG. 6, one end of the opening of theballoon 200 is outserted onto a lock groove 210 featured between thecamera part 170 and ultrasonic part 171, while the other end of theopening is outserted onto a lock groove 191, thereby the balloon beingfixed so as to cover the electronic radial array 180.

Then, when internally filling the balloon with an ultrasonic medium 211such as water in the state of the balloon 200 being mounted onto theultrasonic part 171, the circumference of the electronic radial array180 can be filled with the ultrasonic medium 211.

Thus filling of the balloon 200 with the ultrasonic medium 211 makes itpossible to fill the circumference of the electronic radial array 180with the ultrasonic medium 211, enabling an easy performance of anultrasonic diagnosis or treatment at a spot where it is difficult to letan ultrasonic medium 211 stay, such as esophagus. It is also possible toperform an ultrasonic diagnosis or treatment in a narrow place within anabdomen because a predetermined space can be created between theelectronic radial array 180 and human body by expanding the balloon 200.

In the case of constituting the ultrasonic part 171 by mounting the lockmember 190 onto the electronic radial array 180 as described above,however, there is a risk of the lock member 190 falling out of theelectronic radial array 180 if the connection part between theelectronic radial array 180 and lock member 190 is damaged due to anunexpected physical, mechanical and/or electrical influence even thoughthe electronic radial array 180 is attached to the lock member 190 by astrong adhesive.

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic endoscopeapparatus. The ultrasonic endoscope apparatus 350 shown in FIG. 7 is anelectronic scanning type ultrasonic endoscope apparatus, comprising aconnection part 351, an operation part 352 and an insertion part 353which comprises a tip part 354.

The connection part 351 is connected to a measurement apparatuscomprising a display, for example, displaying an image obtained by anultra compact camera equipped on the tip part 354.

The operation part 352 performs an operation of curving the insertionpart 353 in up, down, left and right directions, for example, by a useroperation.

The tip part 354 is equipped with an ultrasonic transducer arrayconstituted by a plurality of ultrasonic transducer being continuouslylined up, in addition to the ultra compact camera, so that apredetermined ultrasonic transducer selected from among the pluralitythereof transceives an ultrasonic wave. An ultrasonic wave received bythe ultrasonic transducer array is also converted into an electricsignal and displayed in the display, et cetera, as an image.

FIG. 8 is an enlargement diagram of the tip part 354 shown in FIG. 7. Asshown in FIG. 8, the tip part 354 comprises a scope part 355 having aphotographing function such as ultra compact camera, illumination, etcetera, and the ultrasonic transducer array 356.

The ultrasonic transducer array 356 comprises an acoustic lens 357equipped on the outside of a plurality of ultrasonic transducer, aballoon lock member 358, being equipped on one end of the acoustic lens357, for locking an end of a later described balloon, and a scopeconnection member 359 equipped between the end of the acoustic lens 357and the scope part 355.

As described above, the ultrasonic endoscope apparatus 350 is commonlyused by mounting a balloon made of an elastomer onto the ultrasonictransducer array 356 (e.g., refer to a patent document 2).

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of the ultrasonic transducer array356 on which a balloon is mounted. In this diagram, the same componentsign is assigned to the same configuration as one shown in FIG. 8. Theballoon 360 shown in FIG. 9 is for example configured as a tube which ismade of an elastic body as elastomer. One end of the opening of theballoon 360 is latched to a balloon lock groove 361 featured on thecircumference of the scope part 355 while the other end of the openingof the balloon 360 is latched to an balloon locking groove 362 featuredon the circumference of the balloon lock member 358, thereby the balloon360 being mounted onto the ultrasonic transducer array 356 so as tocover the acoustic lens 357.

Then, when the balloon 360 is internally filled with an ultrasonicmedium 363 such as water in the state of the balloon 360 being mountedonto the ultrasonic transducer array 356, the circumference of theacoustic lens 357 can be filled with the ultrasonic medium 363.

Thus filling of the balloon 360 with the ultrasonic medium 363 makes itpossible to fill the circumference of the acoustic lens 357 with theultrasonic medium 363, enabling an easy performance of an ultrasonicdiagnosis or treatment at a spot where it is difficult to let anultrasonic medium 363 stay, such as esophagus.

It is also possible to perform an ultrasonic diagnosis or treatment in anarrow place within an abdomen because a predetermined space can becreated between the ultrasonic transducer array 356 and human body byexpanding the balloon 363.

In the case of constituting the ultrasonic transducer array 356 by anacoustic lens 357, a balloon lock member 358 that is an endoscopestructure member and a scope connection member 359, as the above notedultrasonic endoscope apparatus 350, however, the acoustic lens 357 isgenerally structured by a soft material such as elastomer, while theballoon lock member 358 and scope connection member 359 are generallystructured by a plastics, et cetera. As such, the acoustic lens 357 isstructured by a different material than that of the balloon lock member358 and scope connection member 359, and therefore the acoustic lens357, balloon lock member 358 and scope connection member 359 cannot beintegrally structured. Due to this, it is necessary to equip aconnection band constituted by an adhesive, et cetera, between theacoustic lens 357 and balloon lock member 358, and also between theacoustic lens 357 and scope connection member 359, in order to connectthe acoustic lens 357 to the balloon lock member 358, and connect theacoustic lens 357 to the scope connection member 359. If either of theboth end parts of the acoustic lens 357 is featured to be protrusivethan the balloon lock member 358 or scope connection member 359 in thisevent, such a protrusion causes the problem of the ends of the acousticlens 357 becoming prone to receiving a force from the balloon 360,resulting in levying loads at the both ends of the acoustic lens 357,respectively, when mounting the balloon 360 onto the ultrasonictransducer array 356 or removing the balloon 360 therefrom.

And if the respective loads are levied at the both ends of the acousticlens 357 at the time of mounting or removing the balloon 360, the causedproblem includes the mounting or removal of the balloon 360 becomingdifficult or the acoustic lens 357 peeling off.

And, it is necessary to consider the safety for a human body indesigning an endoscope since it is an instrument to be insertedinternally to a body cavity. Because the outer surfaces of the insertionpart and its tip part (i.e., an ultrasonic probe) are covered with aninsulative resin, the internal signal wire is not conceivably externallyexposed.

If the plastics covering the outer surfaces are damaged, however, thereis a possibility of the signal wire being externally exposed. In such anevent, an electric shock can be avoided by the entirety of the signalwire being covered with a protective grounded metal.

-   Patent document 1: Japanese registered patent Sho 63-14623-   Patent document 2: Japanese registered patent Hei 06-13034-   Non-patent document 1: Electronic Industries Association of Japan    (currently, Japan Electronics and Information Technology Industries    Association): Handbook of Ultrasonic Diagnostic Equipments, pp. 114;    published by Corona Publishing Co., Ltd.; Jan. 20, 1997

DISCLOSURE OF INVENTION

The present invention provides an ultrasonic probe capable of preventinga lock member from dropping off an electronic radial array due to anunexpected external force and a usage of a chemical agent with anunexpected attacking property.

In order to accomplish the provision as described above, an electronicradial ultrasonic probe according to a preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is one comprising an electronic radial array whichcomprises a plurality of ultrasonic transducers being continuouslyarrayed circularly around an insertion axis as center and also for whicha transmission/reception of an ultrasonic wave is controlled byelectronically selecting the plurality of ultrasonic transducer,comprising: a support member equipped on the electronic radial array; alock member featured with a cavity in which the support member isinserted and with a lock groove for locking a balloon which is mountedin a manner to cover the electronic radial array and in which anultrasonic medium is filled; and a filler member constituted by anadhesive material converting from a fluid state to a solid state, and isfilled in the cavity.

The present invention also provides an ultrasonic endoscope apparatusand an ultrasonic transducer array which are capable of reducing a loadapplied to a connection part between an acoustic lens and an endoscopestructure member at the time of mounting or removing a balloon.

In order to accomplish the provision as described above, an ultrasonicprobe according another preferred embodiment of the present invention isone comprising an ultrasonic transducer array which comprises anacoustic lens equipped externally to a plurality of ultrasonictransducers that are continuously lined up and a balloon lock member forlocking an end of a balloon, wherein an ultrasonic transducer selectedfrom among the plurality thereof transmits or receives an ultrasonicwave, wherein an outer diameter of the balloon lock member at a partconnecting to the acoustic lens is larger than that of the acoustic lensat apart connecting to the balloon lock member, and also the acousticlens is connected to the balloon lock member by way of a connection bandfor smoothing out steps of the respective connection parts.

The present invention also provides an electronic radial ultrasonicprobe having a protective grounding structure.

In order to accomplish the provision as described above, an electronicradial ultrasonic probe according another preferred embodiment of thepresent invention is one comprising first and second electrodes andlining up, in the form of a cylinder, a plurality of ultrasonictransducer elements for transmitting/receiving an ultrasonic wave byusing a potential difference between the first and second electrodes,storing internally in the cylinder a group of cables corresponding torespective ultrasonic transducer elements for transmitting a drivesignal for driving the individual ultrasonic transducer elements, andelectrically connecting signal wires of the respective cables to thefirst electrode existing internally in the cylinder, wherein the groundwire included in the cable is connected to a first conductive bodyhaving approximately the same form as an opening which is mounted ontoan opening of a cylindrical body formed by a group of the plurality ofultrasonic transducer elements that are lined up in the cylinder form.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic endoscopeapparatus;

FIG. 2 is an enlarged diagram of a dotted line frame A;

FIG. 3 is a diagram exemplifying an electronic radial array;

FIG. 4 is a diagram exemplifying a lock member;

FIG. 5 is a diagram exemplifying a balloon;

FIG. 6 is a diagram showing a situation of mounting a balloon onto anultrasonic part;

FIG. 7 is a diagram showing a conventional ultrasonic endoscopeapparatus;

FIG. 8 is an enlarged diagram of a tip part;

FIG. 9 is a cross-sectional diagram of an ultrasonic transducer array onwhich a balloon is mounted;

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a head part of an ultrasonic endoscopeapparatus according to a first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 1thereof);

FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying a cavity featured in a lock memberaccording to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 12 is a diagram exemplifying a method for mounting a head partaccording to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 13 is a diagram exemplifying a coil wound around a support memberaccording to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 2 thereof);

FIG. 14 is a diagram exemplifying a coil signal wire connected to a coilaccording to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 2 thereof);

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of a cavity featured in alock member according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 3thereof);

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing another example of a cavity featured in alock member according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 3thereof);

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing another example of a cavity featured in alock member according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 3thereof);

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing another example of a support memberaccording to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 3 thereof);

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing another example of a support memberaccording to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 3 thereof);

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing another example of a support memberaccording to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 3 thereof);

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing another example of ahead part of anultrasonic endoscope apparatus of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 4thereof);

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing another example of ahead part of anultrasonic endoscope apparatus of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 4thereof);

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing another example of ahead part of anultrasonic endoscope apparatus of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 4thereof);

FIG. 24 is a diagram showing a situation of connecting a support membershown in FIG. 19 to a lock member equipped with a cavity shown in FIG.11 according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 4thereof);

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array comprised byan ultrasonic endoscope apparatus according to a second preferredembodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 26 is an enlarged diagram of a neighborhood of apart connecting aballoon lock member to an acoustic lens according to the secondpreferred embodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 27 is an enlarged diagram of a neighborhood of a part connecting ascope connection member to an acoustic lens according to the secondpreferred embodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array comprised byan ultrasonic endoscope apparatus according to the second preferredembodiment (an embodiment 2 thereof);

FIG. 29 is a diagram showing an external configuration of an ultrasonicendoscope according to the third preferred embodiment;

FIG. 30 is an enlarged diagram of a head part of an ultrasonic endoscope401 shown in FIG. 29;

FIG. 31 is a diagram showing a production process (part 1) of anultrasonic probe according to the third preferred embodiment (anembodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 32 is a diagram showing a production process (part 2) of anultrasonic probe according to the third preferred embodiment (anembodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 33 is a diagram showing a production process (part 3) of anultrasonic probe according to the third preferred embodiment (anembodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 34 is a diagram showing a production process (part 4) of anultrasonic probe according to the third preferred embodiment (anembodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 35 exemplifies a balloon lock member and its support member whichare mounted onto a structure body G according to the third preferredembodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 36 exemplifies a variation of a conductive plate 510 according tothe third preferred embodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 37 shows a cross-sectional diagram when mounting a conductive plate510 onto a structure body G according to the third preferred embodiment(an embodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 38 is an enlarged diagram of a coaxial cable group 462 enclosed bya dotted line frame 530 indicated in FIG. 37;

FIG. 39 shows a cross-sectional diagram of a state ofprotective-grounding an ultrasonic probe 530 according to the thirdpreferred embodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof);

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a part of a production process of anultrasonic probe according to the third preferred embodiment (anembodiment 2 thereof);

FIG. 41 shows a cross-section of an ultrasonic probe 10 separatingbetween a protective grounding and a signal ground according to thethird preferred embodiment (an embodiment 2 thereof); and

FIG. 42 shows an enlarged diagram of apart of a coaxial cable 551 whichis enclosed by a dotted line frame 550.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

The following is a description of the preferred embodiment of thepresent invention by referring to the accompanying drawings.

First Embodiment Embodiment 1

FIG. 10 is a diagram showing a head part of an ultrasonic endoscopeapparatus according to the first embodiment. Note that the head partshown in FIG. 10 is a part corresponding to the tip part 164 of theultrasonic endoscope apparatus 160 shown in FIG. 1.

The head part 10 shown in FIG. 10 mainly comprises an electronic radialarray 11, a support member 12, a lock member 14 and a filler member 15.The electronic radial array 11 is configured by lining up a plurality ofultrasonic transducers in a ring pattern around an insertion axis ascenter. These ultrasonic transducers are electronically selected and atransmission/reception (noted as “transception” hereinafter) of anultrasonic wave is controlled. The support member 12 is equipped on theelectronic radial array 11 and formed as an approximate alphabet L, thatis, featured with one overhang being featured at the head part. The lockmember 14 is equipped with a cavity for inserting the support member 12and with a lock groove 13. The lock groove 13 is for locking a balloonwhich is mounted in a manner to cover the electronic radial array 11followed by filling the balloon with an ultrasonic medium. The fillermember 15 is constituted by an adhesive material changing from a fluidstate to a solid state (or, approximate rigid body) and is filled in thecavity.

Note that a method for connecting the support member 12 to theelectronic radial array 11 may be by means of adhesion, riveting,brazing (i.e., welding, soldering, et cetera) and caulking, for example,in lieu of being limited to one method. Meanwhile, the connectionstrength of the support member to the electronic radial array 11 isdesirably the same or higher as compared to the breakdown strength ofeither of the support member 12, lock member 14 or filler member 15 perse. The overhang formed on the side face of the support member 12 may beformed in the entirety or part of the circumference among the entiretyof the side surface. The number of overhangs formed in the supportmember 12 may be two or more. In the case of forming two or moreoverhangs, they may be continuously formed or intermittently formed. Anda position for mounting the support member 12 or lock member 14 to theelectronic radial array 11 may be on the center axis thereof or offcenter. And the support member 12 may be formed in a hook form.

The support member 12 is configured to form approximately in thealphabet L as described above. Therefore, it is formed in a manner thatthe support member 12 is caught by the filler member 15 when the fillermember 15 is converted into the solid state after the support member 12is inserted into the filler member 15 in the fluid state within thecavity, that is, two certain cross-sectional area sizes and/or forms inthe direction perpendicular to the insertion axis of the electronicradial array 11 are mutually different.

The cavity is formed in a manner that the lock member 14 is caught bythe filler member 15 when the filler member 15 in the fluid state withinthe cavity is converted into the solid state, that is, two certaincross-sectional area sizes and/or forms in the direction perpendicularto the insertion axis of the electronic radial array 11 are mutuallydifferent.

FIG. 11 is a diagram exemplifying a cavity featured in the lock member14 shown in FIG. 10. The cavity 20 of the lock member 14 shown in FIG.11 is featured as an approximate mushroom form, that is, featured withone overhang in the internal side face. The opening part of the cavity20 is featured in a manner to have a larger cross-sectional area sizethan that of the largest outer size of the support member 12 shown inFIG. 10.

Note that the cavity 20 may be formed together with other parts when thelock member 14 is produced by an injection molding or blow molding, oralternatively be processed by a lathe, et cetera, after molding the lockmember 14. And, the overhang featured internally in the side face of thecavity 20 may be featured internally in the entirety or part of theinternal circumference of the side face. The number of overhangsfeatured in the internal side face of the cavity 20 may be two of themor more. In the case of featuring two or more overhangs, they may beformed continuously or intermittently.

The next is a description, by referring to FIG. 12, of an example methodfor mounting the head part 10 shown in FIG. 12.

FIG. 12 is a diagram exemplifying a method for mounting the head part 10shown in FIG. 10. Incidentally, the same component sign is assigned tothe same configuration as one shown in FIG. 10 or 11.

The first process fills the cavity 20 of the lock member 14 with anadhesive material (e.g., an organic solvent-series adhesive, elasticadhesive, epoxy resin-series adhesive, et cetera) as the filler member15 and also applies an adhesive material to a circumference of thesupport member 12 (e.g., a surface thereof).

The next inserts the support member 12 into the adhesive material filledwithin the cavity 20 of the lock member 14 and assembles the electronicradial array 11 and lock member 14 together, followed by removing arun-over adhesive material from between the electronic radial array 11and lock member 14 and letting the filled adhesive material set.

Note that an alternative configuration may be in a manner to assemblethe electronic radial array 11 and lock member 14 and fill the cavity 20with the filler material 15 from an injection hole featured in the lockmember 14, followed by plugging the injection hole with an adhesive orresin following a completion of filling with the filler member 15.

As such, the support member 12 and lock member 14 are adhered togetherby the filler member 15 in the assembled head part 10, the supportmember 12 is further combined with the set (i.e., hardened) fillermember 15 (i.e., the filler member 15 in the solid state) mechanicallyin a manner that the support member 12 is caught by the hardened fillermember 15.

By this, the support member 12 and the hardened filler member 15 aremechanically combined together, and also the hardened filler member 15and lock member 14 are mechanically combined together even if a damageis caused in between the electronic radial array 11 and lock member 14by an unexpected external force or a use of a chemical agent with anunexpected attack property, resulting in a reduced strength at a partconnecting the support member 12 or lock member 14 to the hardenedfiller member 15.

Because of this, even if the support member 12 or lock member 14 comesoff the hardened filler material 15, the support member 12 and lockmember 14 stay mechanically combined together by way of the hardenedfiller member 15 unless either of the lock member 14, hardened fillermaterial 15 or support member 12 is broken, and therefore it is possibleto prevent a situation of the lock member 14 falling off the electronicradial array 11, even if a damage is caused between the electronicradial array 11 and lock member 14 by an unexpected external force or ause of a chemical agent with an unexpected attack property.

Alternatively, the support member 12 may be formed by using a low x-raytransmission material such as metals, tungsten, or lead in order toenable an operator of an ultrasonic endoscope apparatus to externallyconfirming the position of the head part inserted into the inside of ahuman body.

By these, the operator is enabled to externally confirm the head partclearly by using an x-ray when it is inserted into the inside of a humanbody, and accordingly perform an easy guiding of an ultrasonic endoscopeapparatus under a fluoroscopic control.

Alternatively, the support member 12 may be formed by a materialcontaining a magnetic body in order for the operator of an ultrasonicendoscope apparatus to externally confirm a position of the head part 10which is inserted into the inside of a human body by using a magneticfield detection apparatus (not shown herein).

Or, a coil may be wound around the support member 12 in order for theoperator of an ultrasonic endoscope apparatus to externally confirm aposition of the head part 10 which is inserted into the inside of ahuman body. This configuration is described in detail for an embodiment2.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 13 is a diagram exemplifying a coil wound around the support member12 according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 2thereof). As shown in FIG. 13, the coil 40 is wound around the head partof the support member 12. Both ends of the coil 40 are respectivelyconnected to coil signal wires 41.

An alternative configuration may be in a manner to output a highfrequency signal to the coil signal wires 41, detect a magnetic fieldgenerated by the coil 40 and identify a position of the head part 10based on the detected magnetic filed, for example.

Another configuration may be in a manner to apply a prescribed magneticfield to a spot where a diagnosis or treatment is carried out andidentity a position of the head part 10 based on an output obtained fromthe coil 40 by way of the coil signal wire 41.

As described above, the forming of the support member 12 by a materialwith a low x-ray transmission property or material containing a magneticbody, or the wound coil 40 around the support member 12, makes itpossible to obtain positional information for identifying the positionof the head part 10 in the human baby. And the positional informationcan be used as diagnostic information used for guiding an insertion ofan ultrasonic endoscope apparatus, matching a tomographic image with thehuman body atlas.

FIG. 14 is a diagram exemplifying the coil signal wire 41 connected tothe coil 40 shown in FIG. 13 according to the first preferred embodiment(an embodiment 2 thereof). Note that the same component sign is assignedto the same configuration as one shown in FIG. 13.

The coil signal wire 41 shown in FIG. 14 is bundled together with aplurality of signal wires 50 respectively connected to individualultrasonic transducer of the electronic radial array 11 shown in FIG. 10and led through a cable assembly 51.

Note that the coil signal wire 41 may be structured by the same coaxialcable as the signal wires 50, or a separate coaxial cable from thesignal wire 50, or a lead wire.

As such, the structure of threading the coil signal wire 41 through thecable assembly 51 together with the signal wire 50 makes it possible toeliminate a work for harnessing the coil signal wire 41 in addition tothe cable assembly 51 internally in the head part 10, thereby enabling areduction of a work hour as that much when producing an ultrasonicendoscope apparatus.

Embodiment 3

The present invention can adopt various comprisals possible within thescope noted in claims herein, in lieu of being limited to the preferredembodiments described above. For example, a change of comprisals isviable as in the following.

FIG. 15 is a diagram showing another example of a cavity featured in alock member 14 according to the first preferred embodiment (anembodiment 3 thereof). The cavity 60 of the lock member 14 shown in FIG.15 is featured in an inverse taper form, that is, in a manner that thecross-sectional area size of the cavity 60 gradually increases with adepth toward the bottom side from the opening of the cavity 60. It isalso configured that the opening part of the cavity 60 is featured to belarger than the largest cross-sectional area size in the support member12 shown in FIG. 10, in the same manner as the cavity 20 shown in FIG.11.

FIG. 16 is a diagram showing yet another example of a cavity featured ina lock member 14 according to the first preferred embodiment (anembodiment 3 thereof). Note that FIG. 16 shows the external appearanceby the dotted lines and the form of the cavity by the solid lines. Thecavity 70 of the lock member 14 shown in FIG. 16 is formed in a mannerthat two columnar cavities having the same cross-sectional area size arestuck together with their center axes being displaced a little from eachother. And the opening part of the cavity 70 is formed to be larger thanthe cross-sectional area size of the support member 12 shown in FIG. 10in the thickest part, as in the case of the cavity 20 shown in FIG. 11.

FIG. 17 is a diagram showing yet another example of a cavity featured ina lock member 14 according to the first preferred embodiment (anembodiment 3 thereof). Note that FIG. 17 shows the external appearanceby the dotted lines and the form of the cavity by the solid lines. Thecavity 80 of the lock member 14 shown in FIG. 17 is formed in a mannerthat two rectangular cavities are stuck together by displacing from eachother. And the opening part of the cavity 80 is formed to be larger thanthe cross-sectional area size of the support member 12 shown in FIG. 10in the thickest part, as in the case of the cavity 20 shown in FIG. 11.

As described above, various forms of a cavity featured in the lockmember 14 are conceivable.

FIG. 18 is a diagram showing yet another example of a support member 12according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 3 thereof).The support member 90 shown in FIG. 18 is formed in a manner that twocolumn forms having different cross-sectional area sizes are stuck witheach other.

FIG. 19 is a diagram showing yet another example of a support member 12according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 3 thereof).The support member 100 shown in FIG. 19 is formed in an inverse taperform, i.e., in a manner that the cross-sectional area size graduallyincrease toward the tip part.

FIG. 20 is a diagram showing yet another example of a support member 12according to the first preferred embodiment (an embodiment 3 thereof).The support member 110 shown in FIG. 20 is in a manner that tworectangles are stuck with each other, that is, in an approximatealphabet T.

As described above, various forms of the support member 12 are alsoconceivable.

Embodiment 4

FIG. 21 is a diagram showing another example of a head part of anultrasonic endoscope apparatus according to the first preferredembodiment (an embodiment 4 thereof). Note that the head part shown inFIG. 21 is the part corresponding to the tip part 164 of the ultrasonicendoscope apparatus 160 shown in FIG. 1. Also, the same component signis assigned to the same constituent component as one shown in FIG. 10.

The characteristic of the head part 120 shown in FIG. 21 lies incomprising a support member 121 equipped in the head part of anelectronic radial array 11 and featured with a screw on the side face, acavity featured with a screw corresponding to the screw on the supportmember 121 internally in the inside face, and a lock member 123 featuredwith a lock groove 122 for locking with an end of a balloon which ismounted in a manner to cover the electronic radial array 11 and alsofilled with an ultrasonic medium, in which the support member 121 andthe lock member 123 are connected to each other by tightening the screwbetween the support member 121 and the cavity.

Thus connecting by the screw enables a direct mechanical connection ofthe support member 121 to the lock member 123, thereby reducing a workload, et cetera, for positioning when producing an ultrasonic endoscopeapparatus.

FIG. 22 is a diagram showing another example of a head part of anultrasonic endoscope apparatus according to the first preferredembodiment (an embodiment 4 thereof). Note that the head part shown inFIG. 22 is the part corresponding to the tip part 164 of the ultrasonicendoscope apparatus 160 shown in FIG. 1. Also, the same component signis assigned to the same constituent component as one shown in FIG. 10 or21.

The head part 130 shown in FIG. 22 comprises a support member 121, alock member 132, and a filler member 15. The support member 121 is thesame as one shown in FIG. 21. The lock member 132 is featured with acavity having a larger capacity than the support member 121 and with ascrew internally in the side face, and a lock groove 131 for lockingwith an end of a balloon which is mounted in a manner to cover theelectronic radial array 11 and also filled with an ultrasonic medium.

This comprisal also connects the support member 121 to the lock member132 mechanically, and therefore is capable of preventing a situation ofthe lock member 132 dropping off the electronic radial array 11.

FIG. 23 is a diagram showing another example of a head part of anultrasonic endoscope apparatus according to the first preferredembodiment (an embodiment 4 thereof). Note that the head part shown inFIG. 23 is the part corresponding to the tip part 164 of the ultrasonicendoscope apparatus 160 shown in FIG. 1. Also, the same component signis assigned to the same constituent component as one shown in FIG. 10,11 or 21.

The characteristic of the head part 140 shown in FIG. 23 lies incomprising a support member 121 shown in FIG. 21 and a lock member 14equipped with a cavity 20 shown in FIG. 11, in which the support member121 and lock member 14 are connected by a filler member 15.

This comprisal also enables a mechanical connection of the supportmember 121 to the lock member 14, and therefore is capable of preventinga situation of the lock member 14 dropping off the electronic radialarray 11.

While a connection method between the electronic radial array 11 andsupport member 12 can conceivably use adhesion, riveting, grazing,caulking, et cetera, as described above, and the following connectionmethod can also be considered.

FIG. 24 is a diagram exemplifying a method for connecting the supportmember 12 to electronic radial array 11 according to the first preferredembodiment (an embodiment 4 thereof). Note that FIG. 24 shows thesituation of connecting the support member 100 shown in FIG. 19 to thelock member 14 featured with the cavity 20 shown in FIG. 11.

The support member 100 shown in FIG. 24 is featured with a hole 150along the center axis thereof.

First step laces a rope-like member 151 (e.g., made of a high strengthfiber such as aramid fiber and carbon fiber) through a cable assembly 51shown in FIG. 14, et cetera, in advance.

The next laces the rope-like member 151 sticking out on the lock member14 side from the cable assembly 51 through the hole 150.

The next attaches a knot 152 to the end of the rope-like member 151sticking out to the tip side of the support member 100 after goingthrough the hole 150.

By this, the knot 152 fixes the support member 100, thereby making itpossible to connect the support member to the electronic radial array11.

The above described embodiment is configured to wind the coil 40 aroundthe support member 12 of an approximate alphabet L form; the coil 40,however, may be wound around the support member 110 which is formed inan approximate alphabet T as shown in FIG. 20, and a form of a supportmember for winding the coil 40 around is not particularly limited.

Also, the above described embodiment is configured to mount the lockmember 14 onto the electronic radial array 11 as a result of combiningthe support member 12 and lock member 14 together through the fillermember 15; the electronic radial array 11 and lock member 14, however,may alternatively be combined together by the filler member 15 directly.

For example, first, the lock member 14 is featured with the cavity 20shown in FIG. 11 and also the support member 12 shown in FIG. 10 is madeby using the filler member 15, and the head part of the electronicradial array 11 is equipped with the support member 12. Incidentally,the electronic radial array 11 and support member 12 may be connectedtogether by the rope-like member 151 as described above, for example.

The next fills the cavity 20 with the filler member 15, which has beenused when making the support member 12, and also coats the filler member15 around the support member 12 made by the filler member 15.

The next inserts the support member 12 into the cavity 20, and assemblesthe electronic radial array 11 and lock member 14 together.

Then, when the filler member 15, et cetera, filled in the cavity 20 ishardened, the support member 12 and lock member 14 are mechanicallycombined together as if the one is caught by the other.

This configuration makes it possible to prevent a situation of the lockmember 14 dropping off the electronic radial array 11 because thesupport member 12 is mechanically connected to the lock member 14 evenif a damage is caused between the electronic radial array 11 and lockmember 14 by an unexpected external force or use of a chemical agenthaving an unexpected attacking property, et cetera, resulting in areduced strength of the connection part between the support member 12and lock member 14.

As described thus far, the first embodiment of the present invention isconfigured in a manner that, when the filler member is converted into asolid state, the support member is adhered to the lock member by thefiller member and, further, the support member is mechanically connectedto the filler member as if the former is caught by the latter, andtherefore the support member is mechanically connected to the fillermember, and the lock member is mechanically connected to the fillermember even if a damage is caused between the electronic radial arrayand lock member by an unexpected external force or use of a chemicalagent having an unexpected attacking property, et cetera, resulting in areduced strength of the connection part between the support member, orlock member, and the filler member.

By this, even if the support member or lock member comes off the fillermember, the support member is continued to be mechanically connected tothe lock member by way of the filler member unless either of the lockmember, filler member or support member is broken, and therefore it ispossible to prevent a situation of the lock member dropping off theelectronic radial array even if a damage is caused between theelectronic radial array and lock member by an unexpected external forceor use of a medicine having an unexpected attacking property, et cetera.

Second Preferred Embodiment

The following is a description of a preferred embodiment of the presentinvention by using the accompanying drawings.

Embodiment 1

FIG. 25 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array comprised byan ultrasonic endoscope apparatus according to a second preferredembodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof). Note that the same component signis assigned to the same comprisal as one shown in FIG. 8.

The ultrasonic transducer array 301 shown in FIG. 25, being a comprisalto be equipped on the tip of a scope part 355 as in the case of theultrasonic transducer array 356 shown in FIG. 8, comprises an acousticlens 302, a balloon lock member 303 and a scope connection member 304.

In between the acoustic lens 302 and balloon lock member 303 is equippedwith a connection band 305 constituted by an adhesive, et cetera. And inbetween the acoustic lens 302 and scope connection member 304 isequipped with a connection band 306 constituted by an adhesive, etcetera.

The characteristic of the aforementioned ultrasonic transducer array 301lies where respective outer diameters of individual connection partsconnected to the acoustic lens 302 are configured to be larger thanrespective outer diameters of individual connection parts connected tothe balloon lock member 303 and scope connection member 304,respectively, of the acoustic lens 302 in both members of the balloonlock member 303 and scope connection member 304 that are endoscopestructure members, and where the acoustic lens 302 is connected to theballoon lock member 303 by way of the connection band 305 for smoothingout a step between the acoustic lens 302 and balloon lock member 303,and also the acoustic lens 302 is connected to the scope connectionmember 304 by way of the connection band 306 for smoothing out a stepbetween the acoustic lens 302 and scope connection member 304.

That is, the acoustic lens 302 and balloon lock member 303 arerespectively formed in a manner that an outer diameter of a first memberconnection part of the balloon lock member 303 that is the connectionpart with the acoustic lens 302 is larger than an outer diameter of afirst lens connection part of the acoustic lens 302 that is theconnection part with the balloon lock member 303. Also configured is,the acoustic lens 302 is connected to the balloon lock member 303 by wayof the connection band 305 of which the surface is processed to have agradual tapered surface so as to eliminate the step between the firstlens connection part and first member connection part.

FIG. 26 is an enlarged diagram of a dotted line frame B shown in FIG.25, that is, an enlarged diagram of a neighborhood of a part connectingthe balloon lock member 303 to the acoustic lens 302. As shown in FIG.26, the edge of the balloon lock member 303 (i.e., the first memberconnection part) is projected outward than the edge of the acoustic lens302 (i.e., the first lens connection part). And the edge of the acousticlens 302 is connected to that of the balloon lock member 303 by way ofthe connection band 305 having a surface of a gradual slope.

At this point, the description exemplifies methods for connecting theacoustic lens 302, connection band 305 and balloon lock member 303,respectively.

The first step applies a surface treatment, by means of a chemicalcoating, corona discharge, gas, plasma, et cetera, to a surface of theacoustic lens 302 connecting to the balloon lock member 303 and that ofthe balloon lock member 303 connecting to the acoustic lens 302,respectively, so as to improve the respective coating properties of theconnection band 305. The next coats the connection band 305 to eachconnecting surface and connects the acoustic lens 302 to the balloonlock member 303. The next processes the surface of the connection band305 to a gradual slope by wiping the surface and/or smoothes it out.

Meanwhile, the acoustic lens 302 and scope connection member 304 arerespectively formed so that an outer diameter of a second connectionpart of the scope connection member 304 that is the connection part withthe acoustic lens 302 is larger than an outer diameter of a second lensconnection part of the acoustic lens 302 that is the connection partwith the scope connection member 304. Also configured is, the acousticlens 302 is connected to the scope connection member 304 by way of theconnection band 306 and the surface of the connection band 306 isprocessed to be a gradual slope so as to eliminate steps of the secondlens connection part and second member connection part.

FIG. 27 is an enlarged diagram of the dotted line frame C shown in FIG.25, that is, an enlarged diagram of a neighborhood of a part connectingthe scope connection member 304 to the acoustic lens 302. As shown inFIG. 27, the edge of the scope connection member 304 (i.e., the secondmember connection part) is projected outward than that of the acousticlens 302 (i.e., the second lens connection part). And the edge of theacoustic lens 302 is connected to that of the scope connection member304 by way of the connection band 306 having a gradual slope surface.

At this point, a description exemplifies methods for connecting theacoustic lens 302, connection band 306 and scope connection member 304,respectively.

The first step applies a surface treatment, by means of a chemicalcoating, corona discharge, gas, plasma, et cetera, to a surface of theacoustic lens 302 connecting to the scope connection member 304 and thatof the scope connection member 304 connecting to the acoustic lens 302,respectively, so as to improve the respective coating properties of theconnection band 306. The next coats the connection band 306 to eachconnecting surface and connects the acoustic lens 302 to the scopeconnection member 304. The next processes the surface of the connectionband 306 to a gradual slope by wiping the surface and/or smoothes itout.

Materials constituting the balloon lock member 303 and scope connectionmember 304 conceivably includes the following. As to resins for example,the conceivable is organic materials such as silicone series, epoxyseries, PEEK (Registered Trademark), polyimide, polyether imide,polysulfone, polyether sulfone, fluorine series resin, et cetera. Alsoconceivable are aforementioned organic materials mixed with powder orfibers of a metal, ceramics, glass, carbon, et cetera. As to metals forexample, the conceivable are stainless steel, titanium and its alloy,metallic glass, et cetera. And, as to inorganic materials, theconceivable are ceramics made of alumina, zirconia, silicon nitride, etcetera.

Also, materials constituting the acoustic lens 302 and a later describedacoustic lens 309 conceivably includes as follows. The conceivableincludes elastomer such as silicone series, urethane series, et cetera.Also conceivable are the aforementioned elastomer mixed with powder orfibers of metal, ceramics, glass, carbon, et cetera.

As to materials of the connection bands 305 and 306, conceivableincludes as follows. The conceivable for example are adhesives of epoxyseries, silicone series, urethane series, et cetera. Also conceivableare the aforementioned adhesive mixed with powder or fiber of a metal,ceramics, glass, carbon, et cetera.

The aforementioned embodiment is configured in a manner that the outerdiameters of the respective connection parts with the acoustic lens 302is larger than the outer diameters of the respective connection partsconnecting the acoustic lens 302 to the balloon lock member 303 andscope connection member 304, respectively, in both of the members of theballoon lock member 303 and scope connection member 304, and also bothof the members of the balloon lock member 303 and scope connectionmember 304 are connected to the acoustic lens 302 by way of theconnection bands 305 and 306 for smoothing out the respective steps ofboth of the members of balloon lock member 303 and scope connectionmember 304 with the acoustic lens 302. Therefore, this configurationhardly allows the balloon 360 as shown in FIG. 9 to be caught by theacoustic lens 357 as a result of the balloon 360 being guided by theconnection bands 305 and 306 when mounting the balloon 360 onto theultrasonic transducer array 301 or when removing the balloon 360therefrom. This configuration reduces a load levied to the acoustic lens357, thereby making it possible to mount or remove the balloon 360smoothly.

The above described embodiment is also configured so as to enable asmooth mounting or removal of the balloon 360 without the edge of theacoustic lens 357 substantially catching the balloon 360 although itbrushes a surface of the ultrasonic transducer array 301 when mountingor removing the balloon 360, thereby reducing a force applied to the endof the acoustic lens 302. This configuration makes it possible toprevent the acoustic lens 302 from peeling off the ultrasonic transducerarray 301 or from being damaged at the time of mounting or removing theballoon 360.

Also, the above described embodiment makes it possible to let an airbubble out of the balloon 360 smoothly because the air bubble is hardlybe caught by the connection bands 305 and 306 when letting the airbubble within the balloon 360 out thereof after mounting it onto theultrasonic transducer array 301 and expand it with water, et cetera.

Also, the above described embodiment makes it possible to pass theballoon lock member 303, which has an outer diameter larger than that ofthe edge of the acoustic lens 302, through an insertion path of a humanbody in advance of the acoustic lens 302 when inserting the ultrasonictransducer array 301 into the human body. This enables the balloon lockmember 303 to remove a foreign material, et cetera, in the insertionpath of a human body and therefore the acoustic lens 302 can beprotected from the foreign material, et cetera.

Note that the acoustic lens 302 according to the aforementionedembodiment is configured to equip with flat parts 308, each of which iscalled a shoulder, on the front and rear of the acoustic lens 302 asshown in FIG. 25; an ultrasonic endoscope apparatus may be configured byusing an acoustic lens equipped with no flat part 308, however.

Embodiment 2

FIG. 28 is a diagram showing an ultrasonic transducer array comprised byan ultrasonic endoscope apparatus according to the second preferredembodiment (the embodiment 2 thereof). Note that the same component signis assigned to the same comprisal as one shown in FIG. 25.

The ultrasonic transducer array 307 shown in FIG. 28 comprises anacoustic lens 309 equipped with no flat part 308 as shown in FIG. 25.

And a connection band 305 constituted by an adhesive, et cetera, isequipped in between the acoustic lens 309 and balloon lock member 303.And a connection band 306 constituted by an adhesive, et cetera, isequipped in between the acoustic lens 309 and scope connection member304. Note that the acoustic lens 309 may be equipped with a flat part308 as shown in FIG. 25 on either of the edges.

The aforementioned ultrasonic transducer array 307 is configured in amanner that, in both of the members of the balloon lock member 303 andscope connection member 304 which are endoscope structure members, therespective outer diameters of individual connection parts with theacoustic lens 309 are larger than the respective outer diameters of theacoustic lens 309 at individual parts for connecting to the balloon lockmember 303 and scope connection member 304. Also configured is, bothmembers of the balloon lock member 303 and scope connection member 304are connected to the acoustic lens 309 by way of the connection bands305 and 306 for smoothing out the steps of the respective connectionparts with the both members of the balloon lock member 303 and scopeconnection member 304.

Such a configuration also hardly allows the balloon 360 to be caught bythe connection part 305 or 306 when mounting the balloon 360 onto theultrasonic transducer array 307 or removing the balloon 360 therefromand therefore it is possible to perform the mounting or removal of theballoon 360 smoothly. It is also possible to prevent the acoustic lens309 from peeling off the ultrasonic transducer array 307 or from beingdamaged when mounting or removing the balloon 360. Also enabled is anair bubble within the balloon 360 to be let out thereof smoothly. Alsoenabled is to protect the acoustic lens 309 from a foreign material, etcetera, when inserting the ultrasonic transducer array 307 into a humanbody.

The aforementioned embodiment may also be configured in a manner that,in either of the balloon lock member 303 or scope connection member 304,an outer diameter of the connection part with the acoustic lens 302 (orthe acoustic lens 309) is larger than that of connection part forconnecting the acoustic lens 302 (or the acoustic lens 309) to theballoon lock member 303 or scope connection member 304, and also theacoustic lens 302 (or the acoustic lens 309) is connected to the balloonlock member 303 or scope connection member 304 by way of the connectionbands 305 and 306 for smoothing out the steps of the connection parts.

Meanwhile, the aforementioned embodiment is configured to connect theacoustic lens 302 (or the acoustic lens 309) to a scope part 355 by wayof the scope connection member 304, it may, however, alternatively beconfigured to connect the acoustic lens 302 (or the acoustic lens 309)directly to the scope part 355. In such a case, an outer diameter of thescope connection part 355 at a part for connecting to the acoustic lens302 (or the acoustic lens 309) is configured to be larger than that ofthe acoustic lens 302 (or the acoustic lens 309) at a part forconnecting to the scope part 355, and also the acoustic lens 302 (or theacoustic lens 309) is connected to the scope part 355 by way of theconnection band 306 for smoothing out the step at the connection parts.

As described above, the second embodiment of the present invention makesit possible to reduce a load applied to a connection part between theacoustic lens and endoscope structure member at the time of mounting aballoon onto the ultrasonic transducer array or removing the balloontherefrom.

Third Preferred Embodiment Embodiment 1

A description of the present embodiment is on an electronic radialultrasonic probe comprising a cylindrical array ultrasonic probe at thehead of an insertion part which comprises an coaxial cable bundleconnected to an transducer element group constituting an arrayed probe,a protective ground wire integrated with the coaxial cable bundle and aconductive body of approximately the same form of a conductor as an endface of the arrayed probe on the tip side, in which the protectiveground wire is connected to the conductive body. The protective groundwire is one mutually shorting, nearby the ultrasonic probe, the shieldwires of the coaxial cable group connected to each transducer element.

FIG. 29 shows an external configuration of an ultrasonic endoscopeaccording to the third preferred embodiment (an embodiment 1 thereof).The ultrasonic endoscope 401 mainly comprises an insertion part 402 of aslender form inserted into an abdomen, an operation part 403 positionedat the base end of the insertion part 402 and a universal cord 404extended from the side of the operation part 403.

The base end part of the universal cord 404 is equipped with anendoscope connector 404 a for connecting to a light source apparatus(not shown herein). Extended from the endoscope connector 404 a are anelectric cable 405 detachably connected to a camera control unit (notshown herein) by way of an electric connector 405 a, and an ultrasoniccable 406 detachably connected to an ultrasonic observation apparatus(not shown herein) by way of an ultrasonic connector 406 a.

The insertion part 402 comprises by serially connecting, from the head,a hard head part 407 formed by a hard plastic member, a curve part 408positioned behind the hard head part 407 and flexibly curved, and aflexible tube part 409, which is positioned behind the curve part 408,extended to the head part of the operation part 403, being a smalldiameter, long and flexible. And, the head of the hard head part 407 isequipped with an ultrasonic probe 410 arraying a plurality ofpiezoelectric elements for transceiving an ultrasonic wave.

The operation part 403 is equipped with an angle knob 411 forcontrolling the curve part 408 for curving in a desired direction, anair/water supplies button 412 for operating an air or water supply, asuction button 413 for performing a suction operation, a treatmentinstrument insertion entrance 414 functioning as entrance for atreatment instrument introducing into an abdomen, and et cetera.

FIG. 30 is an enlarged diagram of the hard head part 407 of theultrasonic endoscope 401 shown in FIG. 29, with FIG. 30 (a) showing anexternal diagonal view diagram and FIG. 30 (b) showing an externalcomprisal diagram. The tip of the hard head part 407 is equipped with anultrasonic probe 410 for enabling an electronic radial scan. Theultrasonic probe 410 is covered by a material forming an acoustic lens(i.e., an ultrasonic transception unit) 417.

Meanwhile, the hard head part 407 is featured with an incline part 407a. The incline part 407 a is equipped with an illumination lens 418 bconstituting an illumination optical part for emitting an illuminationlight to an observation region, an object lens 418 c constituting anobservation optical part for grasping an optical image of theobservation region, a suction-cum-forceps entrance 418 d which is anopening for sucking an incised region or projecting a treatmentinstrument and an air/water supplies hole 418 a which is an opening forsupplying air and water.

A balloon is mounted onto the head of the ultrasonic endoscope foradjusting a contact state and a positional relationship with an internalabdominal wall, for which the head of the ultrasonic probe is featuredwith a balloon lock member 419 for locking the balloon.

FIG. 31 shows a production process (part 1) of an ultrasonic probe.Referring to FIG. 31, the first produced is a structure body Dconstituted by a substrate 420, a conductive body 421, electrodes 422(i.e., 422 a and 422 b), a piezoelectric element 423, acoustic matchinglayers 424 (i.e., a first acoustic matching layer 424 a and a secondacoustic matching layer 424 b), a conductive body 425 and a groove 426when forming the ultrasonic probe 410. Now, a description is provided ona production of the structure body D.

The first is to form the second acoustic matching layer 424 b followedby forming the first acoustic matching layer 424 a. The next uses adicing saw (i.e., a precision shearing machine) for forming a groove inthe first acoustic matching layer 424 a and pours a conductive resin 425into the groove. The next forms a conductive layer 422 b on the surfaceof the first acoustic matching layer 424 a so as to unite with theconductive resin 425.

The next forms the piezoelectric element 423 on the conductive layer 422b and forms the conductive layer 422 a thereon. The conductive layers422 a and 422 b constitute the electrodes 422 a and 422 b for applying avoltage to the piezoelectric element 423. The next mounts the substrate420 on the side of the piezoelectric element 423 and also on theconductive layer 422 b. The surface of the substrate 420 is featuredwith an electrode layer 420 a. The next mounts the conductive body 421for electrically connecting the electrode 420 a to the electrode 422 a.

The next forms a plurality of grooves of the width of tens micrometers(i.e., diced grooves) 426 by cutting in the formed structure body D asdescribed above. The width of the groove is preferably 20 to 50micrometers. In this event, the cut-in of the structure body D is suchas to leave tens micrometers of the second acoustic matching layer 424 buncut in lieu of the layer being completely cut. Approximately 200pieces of such grooves 426 are formed. Here, the divided each of thetransducers is called an transducer element 427.

Note that the present embodiment as described above is of a two-layermatching, and therefore a material for the first acoustic matching layer424 a preferably uses an epoxy resin containing a filler such as aluminaand titania (TiO₂), et cetera, which that of the second acousticmatching layer 424 b preferably uses an epoxy resin not containing afiller. In the case of a three-layer matching, a material for the firstacoustic matching layer preferably uses a carbon or epoxy resincontaining a machinable ceramics, a filler or fibers, that of the secondacoustic matching layer preferably uses an epoxy resin containing a verylittle amount (i.e., a lower rate of content as compared to the case oftwo-layer matching) of filler such as alumina, titania, et cetera, andthat of the third acoustic matching layer preferably uses an epoxy resinnot containing a filler.

The piezoelectric element 423 may use one invested with electrodes onboth of the principal surfaces in advance. And the electrode layer 422 amay utilize an electrode invested to the piezoelectric element inadvance.

The next curves the structure body D to a cylindrical form so as to makethe side faces X1 and X2 of the layered body facing each other as shownin FIG. 32 (a).

The next forms the acoustic lens 417 on the cylindrical surface (namedas “structure body E” hereinafter) as shown in FIG. 32 (b). The acousticlens 417 may use a pre-produced single body of acoustic lens forcombining with the structure body D which is formed as a cylindricalshape, or insert a cylindrically formed structure body D into a mold andpour the acoustic lens material into the mold, thereby forming anacoustic lens 417. Note that a lens part 417 a of the acoustic lens 417is the part functioning as acoustic lens.

The next mounts a circular structure member 430 a internally from theopening part of the structure body E as shown in FIG. 32 (c). In thisevent, the structure member 430 a is mounted so as to position itself onthe substrate 420 (refer to FIG. 33 (a)). A structure member 430 b islikewise mounted onto the opening part on the other side. In this event,the structure member 430 b is mounted so as to position itself on theconductive material 425 (refer to FIG. 33 (a)). The outer surface of thestructure member 430 b is covered with a metal such as a cupper foil, etcetera.

FIG. 33 shows a cross-section of the structure body E mounting thestructure members 430. Mounting the structure members 430 (i.e., 430 aand 430 b) as shown in FIG. 32 (c), followed by (refer to FIG. 33 (a)),filling in between the structure members 430 a and 430 b with a backingmaterial 440 (refer to FIG. 33 (b)). A gelatinous epoxy resin mixed withalumina filler is used for the backing material 440. The next connectsthe conductive material 425 to a conductive face of the structure member430 b electrically by means of a conductive material 441 (refer to FIG.33 (c)) (the structure body produced in FIG. 33 is named as “structurebody F” hereinafter).

The next inserts a cylindrical structure member 450 from one side of theopening part of the structure body F (i.e., a side equipped with thesubstrate 420) as shown in FIG. 34 (a). The cylindrical structure member450 is constituted by a cylindrical part 453 and a circular flange 452equipped on one end thereof. The surface of the flange 452 is equippedwith a printed wiring plate 454 of which the surface is featured with anelectrode pad 451 of tens to hundreds in number. Furthermore, a cablebundle 462 is internally led though the cylindrical structure member 450with the tip of which being soldered with each pad 451 (i.e., the cable462 is connected by soldering in the inside (i.e., toward the center ofcircle)) of the electrode pad 451). Note that the cable 462 usually usesa coaxial cable for a noise reduction.

The cylindrical structure member 450 is made of an insulator material(e.g., the engineering plastics). The insulator material includespolysulfone, polyether imide, polyphenylene oxide, epoxy resin, etcetera, for example. The surface of the cylindrical part 453 is platedwith a conductive body (i.e., a metal film 463). Note that the surfaceof the cylindrical part 453 is featured with a hole 455, and a groundwire 471 extended from the cable bundle 462 led through the cylindricalstructure member 450 comes out of the hole 455 and is connected to themetal film 463 which is plated on the outer side surface of thecylindrical part 453.

When inserting the cylindrical member 450 thus connected to the cable462 into the structure body F, the flange 452 part of the cylindricalmember 450 hits the structure members 430 of the structure body F,fixing the position of the cylindrical structure member 450, thuspositioning it in the inside of the ultrasonic probe 410.

FIG. 34 (b) shows the situation of connecting the electrode 420 a of thetransducer element 427 to the outer side of the electrode pad 451 (i.e.,the electrode pad part in the outer circumference of the circle) byusing a wire 490 after the cylindrical structure member 450 is insertedand positioned (the structure body produced as shown in FIG. 34 (b) isnamed as “structure body G” hereinafter).

Incidentally, the balloon lock member 419 is mounted onto the openingpart of an ultrasonic probe for locking an edge of a balloon. A supportmember is required to retain the balloon lock member 419 at the openingpart of the ultrasonic probe. The next is a description of the balloonlock member 419 by referring to FIG. 35.

FIG. 35 exemplifies the balloon lock member 419 and the support memberwhich are mounted onto the structure body G. A flat surface of acircular conductive plate 510 with a hole at the center is equipped witha support member 511 which is featured as an approximate alphabet L,that is, with one overhang at the end. The conductive plate 510 iselectrically and mechanically connected to a protective ground wire 512which is extended from the opening part of the structure body G. Theconductive plate 510 is then mounted to the opening part of thestructure body G.

The balloon lock member 419 is featured with a cavity in which thesupport member 511 is inserted, is equipped with a balloon lock groove419 a for locking a balloon, and is mounted so as to cover the openingpart of the structure body G.

FIG. 36 exemplifies a variation of the conductive plate 510. FIG. 36 (a)exemplifies one using a metal plate 520 as a conductive plate 510. Thesupport member 511 is fixed onto the metal plate 520 by means of asoldering or adhesion.

FIG. 36 (b) shows an example using, as a conductive plate 510, a plasticplate 522 (i.e., a printed circuit material) with one surface beingcovered with a cupper foil 521. The support member 511 is fixed onto theplastic plate 522, on the surface of which is covered with the cupperfoil 521 by means of a soldering or adhesion.

FIG. 36 (c) shows an example using, as a conductive plate 510, a plasticplate (i.e., a printed circuit material) equipped with a through-hole(i.e., a hole featured with a cupper foil on the hole surface forelectrically connecting the two surfaces). The support member 511 isfixed on the face on the side featured with an electrode pattern. Inthis case, a thermal capacity of the soldered part is small as to makethe soldering easy and hence improve reliability.

FIG. 37 shows a cross-sectional diagram when mounting the conductiveplate 510. As described above, the cable 462 is connected to the side ofthe center direction of the flange of the electrode pad 451 by asoldering. One end of a wire 490 is connected to the side of the outerdirection of the flange of the electrode pad 451 by a soldering 501,while the other end is connected to the signal-side electrode 420 aexisting on the substrate 420 of the transducer element by a soldering502. Note that the aforementioned connection is carried out by using ashort wire 490 for preventing a shorting by the wire contacting theadjacent signal-side electrode 420 a. Then, the entirety of theconnection part between the cable 462 and electrode pad 451 is coveredwith a potting resin 500 in order to prevent the cable 462 from comingoff the electrode pad 451 as a result of the cable 462 being pulled by aload applied thereto.

A cupper foil 505 is filmed on a surface of the structure member 430 b,and further the surface of the structure members 430 is connected to thecylindrical surface of the acoustic matching layers 424 and cylindricalmember 450 by a conductive resin (e.g., a solder) 504.

Note that the ground wires 471 (i.e., 471 a and 471 b) are extended fromthe cable bundle 462 and connected to the metal film 463 by soldering503 a and 503 b, respectively, as described for FIG. 34 (a).

FIG. 38 is an enlarged diagram of the coaxial cable group 462 enclosedby the dotted line frame 530 indicated in FIG. 37. FIG. 38 (a) is theenlarged diagram viewed from a side, while FIG. 38 (b) is across-sectional diagram, viewed from above, of one coaxial cable 540among the coaxial cable group 462. Note that a bundle of individualcoaxial cables 540 is named as the coaxial cable group 462 in thefollowing description.

Each coaxial cable 540 has a signal wire 541 which is covered with adielectric body 542, around of which is covered with a shield wire(i.e., a signal ground wire) 543 and further covered with an outer coat544. The signal wire 541 is electrically connected to the correspondingpiezoelectric element.

Referring to FIG. 38, the outer coat of each coaxial cable 540 isremoved until a predetermined position. And the shield wires 543 of thecoaxial cables 540 are mutually shorted. Ground wires 545 are extendedfrom the shorted shield wire parts.

The ground wires 545 are connected to the conductive plate 510 as theprotective ground wire 512, and are connected to the metal film 463 bythe soldering 503 a and 503 b as the ground wires 471 (i.e., 471 a and471 b), respectively, as shown in FIG. 37. The coaxial cable 462 isconnected to an ultrasonic observation apparatus (not shown herein)after being led through the inside of an insertion part 2 of theultrasonic endoscope 401, and the shield wires 543 of the coaxial cablegroup 462 are also connected to the ground (GND) of the aforementionedultrasonic observation apparatus.

FIG. 39 shows a cross-sectional diagram of a state of protectivelygrounding the ultrasonic probe 410 according to the present embodiment.FIG. 39 shows an emphasis of parts with a protective grounding (i.e.,diagonally hatched parts 570) by attaching the conductive plate 510 tothe structure body G in the configuration shown in FIG. 37. Note that apart of FIG. 37 is omitted for convenience of the description.

Referring to FIG. 39, the entire frame of the ultrasonic probe isprotectively grounded by the ground wires 512 and 471, the bottomsurface of the conductive body 510, the electrode 422 b, the cupper foil505 featured on the bottom surface the structure member 430 b.Therefore, even if the ultrasonic probe is mechanically damaged,resulting in exposing the interior, such a part is protectivelygrounded.

The present embodiment is configured to share the protective groundingand signal ground (GND), thereby reducing the number of components,hence contributing to a miniaturization of the ultrasonic probe.

As described thus far, the entirety of the ultrasonic probe can becovered with a protective grounding. Therefore, even if the head part ofan ultrasonic endoscope is mechanically damaged, the electric shock canbe prevented since the parts exposing externally to the ultrasonic probeare protectively grounded.

Embodiment 2

A description for the present embodiment is on an electronic radialultrasonic probe separating a protective grounding and a signalgrounding (GND), while the embodiment 1 shares the protective groundingand signal GND.

FIG. 40 is a diagram showing a part of a production process of anultrasonic probe according to the third preferred embodiment (anembodiment 2 thereof). FIG. 40 (a) is a diagram corresponding to FIG.31. Different from the configuration of FIG. 31, one shown in FIG. 40comprises a conductive layer 422 b being featured in apart connecting toa piezoelectric element, and it is not featured in between a substrate420 and a first acoustic matching layer 424 a.

The present embodiment is also configured that a structure body D shownin FIG. 40 (a) is produced first, followed by featuring a metal film onthe surface of the structure body D and featuring an acoustic lens 417.

Also, metal films are featured on both surfaces of the structure member430 b mounted as shown in FIG. 33 (a). Meanwhile, a cylindricalstructure member 450 used for the present embodiment is intermittentlyplated with a metal films 546 (i.e., 546 a and 546 b) as shown in FIG.40 (b). The metal film 546 a is not electrically connected to the metalfilm 546 b. From a hole 547 a opening on the side surface 453 of thecylindrical structure member 450 comes out the above noted signal GNDline 565 and is connected to the metal film 546 a. And from a hole 547 bcomes out a protective ground wire 560 which is then connected to themetal film 546 b. Except for the process described above, the productionprocess is the same as that of the embodiment 1.

FIG. 41 shows a cross-section of an ultrasonic probe 410 separatingbetween a protective grounding and a signal ground according to thethird preferred embodiment (an embodiment 2 thereof). FIG. 41 shows theemphases of a protectively grounded part (i.e., diagonally hatched part580) and a part (i.e., shaded part 581) equipped with a signal GND, bymounting a structure body G in the configuration of FIG. 37.

From a coaxial cable group 551 extends a signal GND wire 565 which isthen soldered to a metal film 546 a featured on the surface of acylindrical structure member 450. From the coaxial cable group 551extend protective ground wires 561 (i.e., 561 a and 561 b). Of them, theprotective ground wire 561 a is soldered to a conductive body 510. Theprotective ground wire 561 b is soldered to a metal film 546 b featuredon the surface of the cylindrical structure member 450. And a conductiveresin 425 is electrically connected to a metal film 553 featured on thesurface of a structure member 430 on the internal side of the ultrasonicprobe. Note that a part is also omitted for convenience of thedescription as in the case of FIG. 39.

FIG. 42 shows an enlarged diagram of a part of a coaxial cable group 551which is enclosed by a dotted line frame 550. FIG. 42 (a) is an enlargeddiagram viewed from the side direction, while FIG. 42 (b) is across-sectional diagram of a coaxial cable group 551 viewed from above.Note that a bundle of individual coaxial cables 540 is named as thecoaxial cable group 551 in the following description.

A comprisal of each coaxial cable 540 is the same as one shown in FIG.37. And individual shield wires (i.e., signal GND wires) 543 of thecoaxial cable 540 are mutually shorted. From the shorted shield wirepart extend ground wires (i.e., signal GND wires) 565.

A plurality of coaxial cables 540 is bundled together and covered withan integrated shield wire 560 which is further covered with an outercoat 562. From the integrated shield wire 560 extend the ground wires(i.e., protective grounding wires) 561.

Referring to FIG. 41, the entire frame of the ultrasonic probe isprotectively grounded by the protective ground wires 561 a and 561 b,the bottom surface of the conductive body 510, the metal film 555featured on the outer surface of the acoustic matching layer, the cupperfoil 505 featured on the bottom surface of the structure member 430 band the metal film 546 b featured on the side surface of the cylindricalstructure member 450.

The protective grounding is separated from the signal GND constituted bythe signal GND wire 565, the electrode 422 b, the cupper foil 553featured on the top surface of the structure member 430 b and the metalfilm 546 a featured on the side surface of the cylindrical structuremember 450. That is, the protective ground wire (i.e., the integratedshield wire 560) is electrically independent of the shield of thecoaxial cable group (i.e., the signal GND wires 565) connected to theindividual transducer elements.

Thus covering the entirety of the ultrasonic probe with a protectivegrounding and equipping the interior with a signal GND make it possibleto shut off an external electrical noise by the protective grounding,hence enabling a suppression of an influence of the electrical noise tothe signal GND (i.e., improving an anti-noise property). This makes itpossible to suppress a fluctuation as a reference voltage to a signalline by minimizing a variation of potential of the signal GND, therebymaking it possible to obtain an ultrasonic image signal with a smallernoise component.

As described above, even if the tip part of the ultrasonic endoscope ismechanically damaged, an electric shock can be prevented. And theseparation of the protective grounding from the signal GND enables afurther improvement of an anti-noise property as compared to theembodiment 1.

As such, the third embodiment of the present invention makes it possibleto prevent an electric shock even if a mechanical damage is caused tothe insulator member at the tip of the an ultrasonic endoscope becauseof the structure externally exposing the protective grounding part.

Note that the first through third embodiment use an electronic radialultrasonic probe utilizing a piezoelectric element, the presentinvention, however, is applicable to an electronic radial ultrasonicprobe utilizing a capacitive transducer (i.e., c-MUT).

1. An electronic radial ultrasonic probe comprising: ultrasonictransducer elements composed of a first electrode and a second electrodefacing each other, wherein the ultrasonic transducer elements arecontinuously lined up and form a cylinder so that the first electrode ispositioned on an inner circumference side; a tubular member positionedwithin the cylinder so as to be parallel to an axial direction of thecylinder; a circular flange connected to one end of the tubular member,wherein the circular flange is positioned within the cylinder so as tobe vertical to the axial direction of the cylinder, and wherein anopening of the tubular member and an opening of the torus are incommunication with each other; an electrode pad equipped on the flangeand electrically connected to the first electrode; and a signal wireintroduced through an other end of the tubular member, leading from theopening of the flange, and connected to the electrode pad.